This is a bit late for a response, but it has to do with what protections are afforded by what entity. The US has very explicit treaties signed with allied nations. Canada, for instance is a five eye partner and thus has far less to worry about from the US than it does from China.
Additionally, China has an ongoing bad track record with how it treats other nations. Commercial entities within China are far more at the whim of the state government and are required to act in alignment with the CCP instructions.
People treat China differently because China is different. They very much are a different beast when it comes to authoritarian control of its commercial and private entries.
Whataboutism doesn’t suddenly make the action ok. Two countries doing something wrong doesn’t suddenly excuse the act.
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This is a bit late for a response, but it has to do with what protections are afforded by what entity. The US has very explicit treaties signed with allied nations. Canada, for instance is a five eye partner and thus has far less to worry about from the US than it does from China.
Additionally, China has an ongoing bad track record with how it treats other nations. Commercial entities within China are far more at the whim of the state government and are required to act in alignment with the CCP instructions.
People treat China differently because China is different. They very much are a different beast when it comes to authoritarian control of its commercial and private entries.